Over the Garden Fence: Arbor Day was a full day of 'tree thinking' in and around Bucyrus
For most of Bucyrus' citizens, Arbor Day arrived quietly Friday, April 26. Just a little over a week earlier that tornado had torn through our "home sweet home." Trees were still spewed in many directions having been ripped from the ground in seconds. The cleanup was still going on. It would continue.
Arbor Day is a last Friday in April tradition in Ohio. You just do not cancel that. The Bucyrus Tree Commission had made plans ahead of time for three events that day. Onward we forged. We started at the Elementary School and worked with youngsters who represented the grade levels along with two aides and the principal. The tree planting there was a locust, one with small compound leaflets and an open form in branching − a sunburst.
The second tree planting was a gift from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry. That one was planned for a location near our Aumiller Park carillon bell tower. Jeff Panovich had selected this spot and marked it. Around 11 a.m. in peaceful sunshine the tree was delivered from Jeff's truck. Mayor Bruce Truka arrived ready to share his Arbor Day proclamation.
We were honored with the presence of Katie Gerber, a state service forester from Perrysville who came to bring us a proclamation honoring the Division's 75th year in Ohio. In addition, Katie had a post with a plaque explaining the purpose of the planting of this bur oak tree.
Andy Furner, Panovich and I took turns digging the hole. The men used a post hole digger to manage the placement of the plaque commemorating this day. Our county's name is in place with the division and ODNR's colorful logo at the top inside the numeral 75.
Safety Service Director Tom Starner was there and supplied the water − a saving moment for securing the Sakrete around the permanent post marker. Elaine Naples, tourism consultant for the Visitors' Bureau, was with us.
Red maple at the high school, more planting at Elementary School
Around 1 p.m. the Arbor Day observances continued when Bucyrus High School student representatives joined the commissioners in planting a red maple tree; the proclamation was read for the third time.
And then it was back to Bucyrus Elementary where third grade teachers and students and special needs students and instructors met the tree commissioners and members of the Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club. Andy, Jeff, Sarah Kalb and Deb Pigman presented three types of tree seedlings to the children. Overcap oaks, white pines and red maples went home with a challenge of planting and caring for them for two years. The species are native to our area and should be helpful replacements for our losses.
That was a full day of tree thinking with city involvement, state involvement and children becoming stakeholders in a future with trees. Please, as you cruise through the park, stop and take a look at this bur oak − a gift from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry.
There is something on my mind today. It is my own reflection. In all of the positivism of Arbor Day, not one event made the front page while this week's drug bust carried a front page photo of marijuana growing. My opinion cries out for the benefits of trees, quietly replacing losses.
Still life is good.
Mary Lee Minor is a member of the Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club, an accredited master gardener, a flower show judge for the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs and a former sixth grade teacher.
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Bucyrus observed Arbor Day with tree plantings at park, schools
